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Human cells can exchange genomic DNA that alters cell behavior

Phys · · 421 words · By UT Southwestern Medical Center

Researchers at UT Southwestern have discovered that human cells can exchange genomic DNA through nanotubes, which can then be incorporated into the recipient cell's genome and alter its behavior. The study, published in the journal Cell, suggests this process may play a role in how cancer genomes evolve.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-human-cells-exchange-genomic-dna.html

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0%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 100%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

10 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

info Single Source 7
help Insufficient Evidence 2
verified Verified By Reference 1
verified
“Scientists at Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI) have discovered that large pieces of DNA can transfer directly between human cells”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence includes general information about UT Southwestern and Children's Health, but no specific report or study confirming the discovery of large DNA transfer between human cells by the CRI.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UT Southwestern or UTSW) is a public academic health science center in Dallas, Texas. With approximately 23,000 employees, more than 3,000 full-tim…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Texas_Southweste…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Center for BrainHealth, part of The University of Texas at Dallas' school of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, is a research institute focused exclusively on brain health that combines brain research…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_BrainHealth
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Children's Health is a pediatric health care system in North Texas anchored by two hospitals, Children's Medical Center Dallas and Children's Medical Center Plano, as well as seven specialty centers a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children's_Health_(health_care…
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“the DNA can persist and change how the recipient cell functions”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence discusses bacterial conjugation and general DNA persistence in foreign cells, but does not provide evidence for the specific claim regarding human cell DNA transfer persisting and altering function.
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web search NEUTRAL — Bacterial conjugation is the transfer of genetic material between bacterial cells by direct cell-to-cell contact or by a bridge-like connection between two cells. This takes place through a pilus. It …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacterial_conjugation
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web search NEUTRAL — Location of Foreign Cells: Cells that integrate into specific tissues may persist longer than those circulating in the bloodstream. Individual Variability: Genetic and environmental factors unique to …
https://thetechy.life/how-long-does-someones-dna-stay-in-you…
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web search NEUTRAL — The donor cell, often containing a plasmid with transferable genes, extends the pilus to the recipient cell, initiating the transfer of genetic material.Once inside the cell, the foreign DNA can recom…
https://biologyinsights.com/horizontal-gene-transfer-in-bact…
info
“The findings, published in Cell, challenge a long-standing view that the genomes of individual human cells evolve independently from one another.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The search results mention the journal 'Cell' in the context of COVID-19 and other unrelated studies, but there is no evidence of a study challenging the independent evolution of human cell genomes.
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web search NEUTRAL — The study published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell earlier this month has provided what scientists are calling the strongest genetic evidence yet against the lab leak theory of Covid-19 ’s origin.
https://www.firstpost.com/health/is-the-covid-lab-leak-theor…
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web search NEUTRAL — Quora is a place to gain and share knowledge. It's a platform to ask questions and connect with people who contribute unique insights and quality answers. This empowers people to learn from each other…
https://www.quora.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — Edmondson wrote in a study published in 1999.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.2307/2666999
info
“DNA damage and errors in cell division can cause pieces of genomic DNA to escape from the nucleus and move into nearby cells through nanotubes”
SINGLE SOURCE
While one search result mentions 'fragments of DNA can transfer from one cell to another via intercellular highways', it does not specifically link this to DNA damage, errors in cell division, or the specific mechanism of 'nanotubes' as described in the claim.
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web search NEUTRAL — Within eukaryotic cells, DNA is organized into long structures called chromosomes. Before typical cell division, these chromosomes are duplicated in the process of DNA replication, providing a complet…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA
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web search NEUTRAL — 6 days ago · DNA is an organic chemical of complex molecular structure found in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. It codes genetic information for the transmission of inherited traits.
https://www.britannica.com/science/DNA
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web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago · Deoxyribonucleic acid (abbreviated DNA) is the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism. DNA is made of two linked strands that wind ar…
https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Deoxyribonucleic-Ac…
info
“transferred DNA can enter the nucleus and become incorporated into the cell's genome”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence discusses horizontal gene transfer in bacteria and plants, but does not provide evidence for this process occurring between human cells as described.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Bacterial conjugation is the transfer of genetic material between bacterial cells by direct cell-to-cell contact or by a bridge-like connection between two cells. This takes place through a pilus.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacterial_conjugation
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web search NEUTRAL — Parts of this transferred DNA can then sometimes become integrated into the genome of the recipient cell. This process it called conjugation.
https://www.pas.va/en/publications/acta/acta27pas/arber.html
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web search NEUTRAL — In plants, horizontal transfer of entire plastid, mitochondrial, or nuclear genomes between species generates new combinations of nuclear and organellar genomes, or produces novel species that are all…
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33523859/
info
“transferred DNA persisted through multiple rounds of cell division, remained biologically active, and conferred new traits to recipient cells”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists only of dictionary definitions of the word 'transferred' and does not address the biological claim.
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web search NEUTRAL — TRANSFERRED definition: 1. past simple and past participle of transfer 2. past simple and past participle of transfer. Learn more.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/transfer…
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web search NEUTRAL — 1. to change or go or cause to change or go from one thing, person, or point to another: they transferred from the Park Hotel to the Imperial; she transferred her affections to her dog.
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/transferred
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web search NEUTRAL — Money had been transferred to a building company carrying out work on his house.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/transfe…
info
“pieces of the Y chromosome transferred from male cells into female cells”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence discusses the Y chromosome and general DNA transfer, but there is no specific evidence confirming the transfer of Y chromosome pieces from male to female human cells.
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web search NEUTRAL — The human Y chromosome is particularly exposed to high mutation rates due to the environment in which it is housed. The Y chromosome is passed exclusively through sperm, which undergo multiple cell di…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y_chromosome
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web search NEUTRAL — The fragments travel along wispy threads connecting cells. A microscopy image showing a red splotch of DNA passing between cells on a black background. Fragments of DNA (red oval, center) can transfer…
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/damaged-dna-spread-nanot…
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web search NEUTRAL — Panel of human cell lines with human/mouse artificial chromosomes.Within this methodology, a normal human X chromosome can be transferred from a hybrid rodent donor cell line to the recipient iPSCs by…
https://www.academia.edu/118435892/Chromosome_Transplantatio…
info
“The transferred DNA carried male-specific genes that became active in the female cells”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence provided consists of general definitions of 'male' and does not support the claim regarding the activation of male-specific genes in female cells via DNA transfer.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Male (symbol: ♂) is the sex of an organism that produces, or is organized to produce, the gamete (sex cell) known as sperm, which fuses with the larger female gamete, [1][2][3][4] or ovum, in the proc…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male
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web search NEUTRAL — Someone who is male is a man or a boy. From 1995 to 2002, the total number of male prisoners nationwide in state and federal prisons grew 27 percent. The company has engaged two male dancers from the …
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/male
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web search NEUTRAL — 3 days ago · The meaning of MALE is of, relating to, or being the sex that typically has the capacity to produce relatively small, usually motile gametes which fertilize the eggs of a female.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/male
help
“Researchers also observed DNA transfer between different types of human cells”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found after searching.
help
“Elizabeth G. Maurais et al, Genome instability triggers intercellular DNA transfer between human cells, Cell (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2026.04.041”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found after searching for the specific paper, author, or DOI provided.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.